Physical quantities, units, and

measurements
PAPER 2
SI Units

Question # 1: M/J 17 P21 Q1

1 (a) Determine the SI base units of stress.

Show your working.

base units ...........................................................[2]

(b) A beam PQ is clamped so that the beam is horizontal. A mass M of 500 g is hung from end Q
and the beam bends slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1.

clamp R l
horizontal
P Q

Fig. 1.1

The length l of the beam from the edge of the clamp R to end Q is 60.0 cm. The width b of the
beam is 30.0 mm and the thickness d of the beam is 5.00 mm. The material of the beam has
Young modulus E.

The mass M is made to oscillate vertically. The time period T of the oscillations is 0.58 s.

The period T is given by the expression

4Ml 3
T = 2π .
Ebd 3
(i) Determine E in GPa.

E = ...................................................GPa [3]
Question # 2:M/J 17 P22 Q1

1 (a) State two SI base units other than kilogram, metre and second.

1. ...............................................................................................................................................

2. ...............................................................................................................................................
[1]

(b) Determine the SI base units of resistivity.

base units ...........................................................[3]

(c) (i) A wire of cross-sectional area 1.5 mm2 and length 2.5 m has a resistance of 0.030 Ω.
Calculate the resistivity of the material of the wire in nΩ m.

resistivity = ..................................................nΩ m [3]

Question # 3: M/J 18 P22 Q1

1 (a) Define force.

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) State the SI base units of force.

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(c) The force F between two point charges is given by

Q1Q2
F=
4πr 2ε

where Q1 and Q2 are the charges,

r is the distance between the charges,
ε is a constant that depends on the medium between the charges.

Use the above expression to determine the base units of ε.

base units ...........................................................[2]

Question # 4: M/J 19 P23 Q1

1 (a) (i) Define resistance.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) A potential difference of 0.60 V is applied across a resistor of resistance 4.0 GΩ.

Calculate the current, in pA, in the resistor.

current = ..................................................... pA [2]

(b) The energy E transferred when charge Q moves through an electrical component is given by
the equation

E = QV

where V is the potential difference across the component.

Use the equation to determine the SI base units of potential difference.

SI base units .......................................................... [3]

Question # 5: M/J 20 P21 Q1

1 (a) Use an expression for work done, in terms of force, to show that the SI base units of energy
are kg m2 s–2.

[2]

(b) (i) The energy E stored in an electrical component is given by

Q2
E=
2C
where Q is charge and C is a constant.

Use this equation and the information in (a) to determine the SI base units of C.

SI base units ......................................................... [2]

Question # 6: M/J 20 P22 Q1

1 (a) Define velocity.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) The drag force FD acting on a car moving with speed v along a straight horizontal road is
given by

FD = v 2Ak

where k is a constant and A is the cross-sectional area of the car.

Determine the SI base units of k.

SI base units ......................................................... [2]

(c) The value of k, in SI base units, for the car in (b) is 0.24. The cross-sectional area A of the
car is 5.1 m2.

The car is travelling with a constant speed along a straight road and the output power of the
engine is 4.8 × 104 W. Assume that the output power of the engine is equal to the rate at which
the drag force FD is doing work against the car.

Determine the speed of the car.

speed = ................................................ m s–1 [3]

 Reasonable Estimates

Question # 1: M/J 16 P21 Q1

1 (a) Make estimates of

(i) the mass, in kg, of a wooden metre rule,

mass = ..................................................... kg [1]

(ii) the volume, in cm3, of a cricket ball or a tennis ball.

volume = .................................................. cm3 [1]

 Uncertainty
Question # 1: M/J 16 P21 Q1

(b) A metal wire of length L has a circular cross-section of diameter d, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

The volume V of the wire is given by the expression

πd 2L
V= .
4
The diameter, length and mass M are measured to determine the density of the metal of the
wire. The measured values are:

d = 0.38 ± 0.01 mm,

L = 25.0 ± 0.1 cm,
M = 0.225 ± 0.001 g.

Calculate the density of the metal, with its absolute uncertainty. Give your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures.

density = ...................................... ± ...................................... kg m–3 [5]

Question # 2: M/J 17 P21 Q1

(b) A beam PQ is clamped so that the beam is horizontal. A mass M of 500 g is hung from end Q
and the beam bends slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1.

clamp R l
horizontal
P Q

Fig. 1.1

The length l of the beam from the edge of the clamp R to end Q is 60.0 cm. The width b of the
beam is 30.0 mm and the thickness d of the beam is 5.00 mm. The material of the beam has
Young modulus E.

The mass M is made to oscillate vertically. The time period T of the oscillations is 0.58 s.

The period T is given by the expression

4Ml 3
T = 2π .
Ebd 3

(ii) The quantities used to determine E should be measured with accuracy and with precision.

2. In a particular experiment, the quantities l and T are measured with the same
percentage uncertainty. State and explain which of these two quantities contributes
more to the uncertainty in the value of E.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................[1]
Question # 3: M/J 18 P23 Q1

(b) The potential difference across a resistor is measured as 5.0 V ± 0.1 V. The resistor is labelled
as having a resistance of 125 Ω ± 3%.

(i) Calculate the power dissipated by the resistor.

power = ..................................................... W [2]

(ii) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the calculated power.

percentage uncertainty = ...................................................... % [2]

(iii) Determine the value of the power, with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number
of significant figures.

power = ..................................... ± ..................................... W [2]

Question # 4: M/J 19 P21 Q1

(b) The speed v of a sound wave through a gas of pressure P and density ρ is given by the
equation

v= kP
ρ

where k is a constant that has no units.

An experiment is performed to determine the value of k. The data from the experiment are
shown in Fig. 1.1.

quantity value uncertainty

v 3.3 × 102 m s−1 ± 3%
P 9.9 × 104 Pa ± 2%
ρ 1.29 kg m−3 ± 4%

Fig. 1.1

(i) Use data from Fig. 1.1 to calculate k.

k = .......................................................... [2]

(ii) Use your answer in (b)(i) and data from Fig. 1.1 to determine the value of k, with its
absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.

k = ....................................... ± ....................................... [3]

Question # 5: M/J 19 P22 Q1

1 (a) The diameter d of a cylinder is measured as 0.0125 m ± 1.6%.

Calculate the absolute uncertainty in this measurement.

absolute uncertainty = ...................................................... m [1]

(b) The cylinder in (a) stands on a horizontal surface. The pressure p exerted on the surface by
the cylinder is given by
4W
p= .
πd 2

The measured weight W of the cylinder is 0.38 N ± 2.8%.

(i) Calculate the pressure p.

p = ................................................ N m−2 [1]

(ii) Determine the absolute uncertainty in the value of p.

absolute uncertainty = ................................................ N m−2 [2]

 Measurements

Question # 1: M/J 16 P23 Q2

2 (a) Describe the effects, one in each case, of systematic errors and random errors when using a
micrometer screw gauge to take readings for the diameter of a wire.

systematic errors: .....................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

random errors: ..........................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Distinguish between precision and accuracy when measuring the diameter of a wire.

precision: ..................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

accuracy: ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]
Question # 2: M/J 17 P21 Q1

(b) A beam PQ is clamped so that the beam is horizontal. A mass M of 500 g is hung from end Q
and the beam bends slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1.

clamp R l
horizontal
P Q

Fig. 1.1

The length l of the beam from the edge of the clamp R to end Q is 60.0 cm. The width b of the
beam is 30.0 mm and the thickness d of the beam is 5.00 mm. The material of the beam has
Young modulus E.

The mass M is made to oscillate vertically. The time period T of the oscillations is 0.58 s.

The period T is given by the expression

4Ml 3
T = 2π .
Ebd 3

(ii) The quantities used to determine E should be measured with accuracy and with precision.

1. Explain the difference between accuracy and precision.

accuracy: ....................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

precision: ....................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
[2]
 Question # 3: M/J 17 P22 Q1

(ii) 1. State what is meant by precision.

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

2. Explain why the precision in the value of the resistivity is improved by using a
micrometer screw gauge rather than a metre rule to measure the diameter of the
wire.

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................
[2]

Question # 4: M/J 18 P23 Q1

1 (a) An analogue voltmeter is used to take measurements of a constant potential difference across
a resistor.

For these measurements, describe one example of

(i) a systematic error,

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) a random error.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
Question # 5: M/J 20 P23 Q1

(b) A student takes several measurements of the same quantity. This set of measurements has
high precision, but low accuracy.

Describe what is meant by:

(i) high precision

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) low accuracy.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
 Vectors

Question # 1: M/J 16 P23 Q1

1 (a) A list of quantities that are either scalars or vectors is shown in Fig. 1.1.

quantity scalar vector

distance ✓
energy
momentum
power
time
weight

Fig. 1.1

Complete Fig. 1.1 to indicate whether each quantity is a scalar or a vector.

One line has been completed as an example. [2]

(b) A girl runs 120 m due north in 15 s. She then runs 80 m due east in 12 s.

(i) Sketch a vector diagram to show the path taken by the girl. Draw and label her resultant
displacement R.

north

east

[1]
(ii) Calculate, for the girl,

1. the average speed,

average speed = ................................................. m s–1 [1]

2. the magnitude of the average velocity v and its angle with respect to the direction of
the initial path.

magnitude of v = ...................................................... m s–1

angle = ............................................................. °
[3]
Question # 2: M/J 17 P23 Q1

1 (a) Two forces, with magnitudes 5.0 N and 12 N, act from the same point on an object.
Calculate the magnitude of the resultant force R for the forces acting

(i) in opposite directions,

R = ....................................................... N [1]

(ii) at right angles to each other.

R = ....................................................... N [1]

(b) An object X rests on a smooth horizontal surface. Two horizontal forces act on X as shown in
Fig. 1.1.

18 N

115°

X 55 N

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

A force of 55 N is applied to the right. A force of 18 N is applied at an angle of 115° to the

direction of the 55 N force.
 (i) Use the resolution of forces or a scale diagram to show that the magnitude of the resultant
force acting on X is 65 N.

[2]

(ii) Determine the angle between the resultant force and the 55 N force.

angle = ........................................................ ° [2]

(c) A third force of 80 N is now applied to X in the opposite direction to the resultant force in (b).

The mass of X is 2.7 kg.

Calculate the magnitude of the acceleration of X.

acceleration = ..................................................m s–2 [3]

Question # 3: M/J 18 P21 Q1

1 (a) State what is meant by a scalar quantity and by a vector quantity.

scalar: ........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

vector: ........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Complete Fig. 1.1 to indicate whether each of the quantities is a vector or a scalar.

quantity vector or scalar

power
temperature
momentum

Fig. 1.1
[2]

(c) An aircraft is travelling in wind. Fig. 1.2 shows the velocities for the aircraft in still air and for
the wind.

west 65° aircraft velocity

in still air 95 m s–1
wind
velocity
28 m s–1
Fig. 1.2

The velocity of the aircraft in still air is 95 m s–1 to the west.

The velocity of the wind is 28 m s–1 from 65° south of east.

(i) On Fig. 1.2, draw an arrow, labelled R, in the direction of the resultant velocity of the
aircraft. [1]
(ii) Determine the magnitude of the resultant velocity of the aircraft.

magnitude of velocity = ................................................. m s–1 [2]